The death toll from the devastating flash floods in Nepal surged to 626 on Saturday, as rescue teams continued search and relief operations in a race against time.
While nearly 2,500 people have been evacuated, more than 2,400 still remain missing.
An ice-rock avalanche following a glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border sent a torrent of water, mud and debris downstream through central Nepal on Wednesday, devastating towns and villages, washing away homes, vehicles, roads and bridges, and damaging hydropower projects.
Rescuers continued search operations amid fears of another wave of flooding following an increase in water levels in the Bhotekoshi River.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority’s (NDRRMA) latest update, 626 people have been reported dead in Nepal.
The disaster also left seven people dead on the Chinese side, according to Tibet’s emergency management department.
More than 11,000 security personnel, including over 5,000 Nepal Army personnel, have been mobilised for search and rescue operations.
An 11-member Indian team comprising medical personnel and tunnel rescue experts also arrived in Nepal to assist local authorities.
According to the Nepal Army’s Public Relations Directorate, 2,465 people have been evacuated so far, including 163 foreigners.
The foreigners include 113 Indians, 26 Chinese, 15 South Koreans, four Germans, two each from Italy and the US, and one Omani national.
As many as 191 workers were evacuated from tunnels of various hydropower projects in Trishuli and Rasuwa, it said.
While 2,265 of those evacuated were rescued by helicopters, 200 were evacuated through land routes.
Emergency health centres set up at Dhunche and Trishuli have so far provided medical assistance to 1,706 people evacuated from different flood-hit areas, it said.
Meanwhile, the Mugling-Kathmandu highway, a major road link connecting the capital with other parts of the country, resumed operations on Saturday, Nepal Police said in a notice. It had remained closed since Wednesday due to the risk of flooding and landslides.
National highways and several major road sections in central Nepal have been obstructed due to flood and landslide risks for the past four days.
The NDRRMA on Friday issued a warning about another flood in the area as water levels rose at the site of Wednesday’s flash flood.
“The water level mixed with mud has increased at the same place where the flash flood occurred on Wednesday, and there is a risk of more flooding in the area,” the NDRRMA said.
Hospitals remained crowded with flood victims receiving treatment, while outside, anxious families and relatives gathered in large numbers, searching for information about loved ones still missing in the disaster.
